Torque reducing apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a bow and a method for reducing torque. An exemplary bow includes a riser having a pair of limbs having a string assembly operably coupled to each one of the pair of limbs, the riser with the pair of limbs operable to maintain a tension in the string assembly. The bow further includes a handle, the handle having a ball joint maintained in the handle operable to rotate relative to the handle, wherein the handle is rotatably affixed to the riser at the ball joint free floating bow including a riser having two ends, and a pair of limbs, each extending from one end of the riser.

This application is a continuation of prior U.S. patent application Ser.No. 15/134,547 filed Apr. 21, 2016, and claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/150,502 filed Apr. 21, 2015which is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide a torquereducing apparatus and method, More specifically, embodiments of thepresent disclosure relate to a torque reducing mechanism adapted for auser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A bow is a flexible arc that can shoot aerodynamic projectiles oftenknown as arrows. A string joins the two ends of the bow and when thestring is drawn back, the ends of the bow are flexed. When the string isreleased, the potential energy of the flexed bow is transformed intokinetic energy in the velocity of the arrow.

Today, bows and arrows are used primarily for hunting and for the sportof archery. There is no one accepted system for classification of bows.Bows may be described by various characteristics including the materialsused, the length of the draw that they permit, the shape of the how in aside view, and the shape of the limb in cross-section, Some common typesof bows includes the recurve bow, the reflex bow, the self bow, thelongbow, the composite bow and the compound bow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present disclosure toprovide a method and apparatus for reducing torque.

A first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a freefloating bow. The free floating bow includes a riser having two ends,and a pair of limbs, each extending from one end of the riser. The freefloating bow further includes a string assembly extending between thepair of limbs, a handle having a top end and a bottom end, and a balljoint assembly having a socket, a ball rotatably retained within thesocket, wherein the socket is attached to the riser and the ball isattached to the top end of the handle, and wherein the riser is adaptedto rotate with respect to the handle about the ball.

A second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a freefloating bow configured to be held in an archer's hand. The freefloating bow includes a riser including two ends and handle having acentral axis, a pair of limbs, each extending from one end of the riser,and a string assembly having two ends, each end of the string assemblyis functionally attached to a limb of the pair of limbs. The freefloating bow further includes two joints, each interposed between oneend of the riser and one of the limbs, each joint having a central axissubstantially parallel to the central axis of the handle, wherein thehandle is adapted to be held with a firm grip of the archer's hand andeach of said limbs is adapted to rotate with respect to the handle suchthat proper aim and shot can be taken with the bow.

A third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure a bow including ariser having a pair of limbs having a string assembly operably coupledto each one of the pair of limbs, the riser with the pair of limbsoperable to maintain a tension in the string assembly, and a handle, thehandle comprising a ball joint maintained in the handle operable torotate relative to the handle, wherein the handle is rotatably affixedto the riser at the ball joint.

A fourth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure a method ofmanufacture. The method includes providing a riser having a pair oflimbs having a string assembly operably coupled to each one of the pairof limbs, the riser with the pair of limbs operable to maintain atension in the string assembly. The method further includes affixing ahandle to the riser, the handle comprising a ball joint maintained inthe handle operable to rotate relative to the handle, wherein the handleis rotatably affixed to the riser at the ball joint.

The following will describe embodiments of the present disclosure, butit should be appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited tothe described embodiments and various modifications of the invention arepossible without departing from the basic principles. The scope of thepresent disclosure is therefore to be determined solely by the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top rear perspective view of a bow suitable for use inpracticing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a bottom rear perspective view of a bow suitable for use inpracticing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of a bow suitable for use in practicing exemplaryembodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a bow suitable for use in practicing exemplaryembodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a bow suitable for use in practicing exemplaryembodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a rear top perspective view of a bow suitable for use inpracticing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a compound bow suitable for use in practicingexemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a recurve bow suitable for use in practicingexemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a top view of a long bow suitable for use in practicingexemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a bow suitable for use in practicing exemplaryembodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a side view of an alternative bow suitable for use inpracticing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a side view of yet another alternative bow suitable for usein practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a bow suitablefor use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view of an exemplary ball suitable for usein practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an exemplary handle suitable for use inpracticing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to equipment used inarchery, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for reducingtorque on a bow, and most particularly to an assembly for eliminatingthe torque transferred from the grip to the riser so that the user canmaintain improved control over the bow. The reduction in torquetransferred from a user's hand or grip to the riser of the bow greatlyincreases accuracy. Embodiments of the present disclosure are applicablefor bows with high draw strength.

Drawing the string of the bow out of the plane of the bow producestorque or a tendency for the bow grip to twist in the hand of the user.When the string is released the torque twists the grip in the oppositedirection causing deflection of the arrow path or oscillation of thearrow, both of which affect the accuracy of the shot. Although thickergrip sections are desirable from the comfort standpoint, such thickersections act to increase hand contact with the grip along with theconsequent torque on the bow. In order to reduce this amplified torquetendency, conventional wisdom suggests a narrower and thinner riser.This reduces the amount of hand contact with the bow. However, onedrawback to this solution is that thin grips are uncomfortable and moredifficult to grasp securely.

Thus, there is a need for a handle that may be incorporated intoconventional bows that reduces the torque transferred from the user'shand or grip to the riser upon release of the bow string. Accordingly,one aspect of the present disclosure provides a bow handle of normalthickness and mounting location while reducing the effect of torque onthe bow during use. Embodiments of an exemplary torque reducing assemblyare compact, and are easily retrofitted into conventional bows.Embodiments of an exemplary torque reducing assembly further allow theuser to maintain precise control over the bow during use. Embodimentsalso provide a bow with improved accuracy by overcoming the twistingand/or turning motion of a bow about the hand grip when force is appliedas a user draws the bow string to an anchor point.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a bow that can beheld by a user without the need to open the bow hand to take a shot,making it easier for the user to take a shot or shorten the time betweenthe aiming phase and trigger pulling phase during use. Embodiments alsoinclude a bow that is simple to operate. Embodiments also include a bowthat does not require the user to hold the bow level prior to shooting.

Referring to FIGS. 1-9, shown is a portion of an exemplary bow suitablefor use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. Shown isa free floating bow 2 (or bow) configured to be held in a user's (orarcher's) hand 56 (shown in FIG. 5) with a firm grip. The free floatingbow 2 includes a riser 4, a pair of limbs 14, a string assembly 16(shown in FIGS. 7 and 12), a handle 6 having a top end and a bottom endand a ball joint assembly 8. Free floating bow 2 also includes a pair ofstring stops 12 with bumpers 22, dogbone 20, an arm brace 24 with armsupport 34 (shown in FIG. 2), and sight tower 32.

As shown in FIGS. 1-9, riser 4 is rotatable affixed to handle 6 throughball joint assembly 8. Ball joint assembly 8 includes ball 30 rotatablymaintained within a first ball socket portion 26 and a second ballsocket portion 28. Embodiments of ball joint assembly 8 provide suitablefriction between ball 30, and first ball socket portion 26 and secondball socket portion 28 may be configured such that the ease with whichto rotate riser 4 and handle 6 may be more predictable to the user.Suitable stops or limiters may also be provided to limit the range ofmotion of ball joint assembly 8 such that upon taking a shot, thecomponents supported on the ball 30 will not become unpredictable or ina manner detrimental to the user or the bow itself. Embodiments of balljoint assembly 8 are operable such that the friction between ball 30 andfirst and second ball socket portions 26, 28 can be adjusted to increaseor decrease the friction and thus the amount of force required to rotateriser 4 relative to handle 6. In one embodiment, the connection betweenfirst ball socket portion 26 and second ball socket portion 28 can beloosened or tightened (e.g., by a screw 3 that couples first ball socketportion 26 to second ball socket portion 28) thereby increasing ordecreasing a relative size of the socket that maintains ball 30.Embodiments of riser 4 and ball joint assembly 8 allow riser 4 to rotaterelative to handle 6 along the pitch angle 42 (shown in FIG. 5), alongthe roll angle (shown in FIG. 4), and the yaw angle (shown in FIG. 7).

It should be appreciated that embodiments of ball joint assembly 8 canbe maintained above handle 6 between riser 4 and handle 6 as shown inFIGS. 16. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-9, ball 30 is fixedlyattached to the top of handle 6, and rotatably attached to riser 4through first and second ball socket portions 26, 28. However,embodiments of ball joint assembly 8 can also be maintained withinhandle 6 as shown in FIG. 13. In the embodiment of ball joint assembly 8shown in FIG. 13, ball joint assembly 8 includes a ball 30 fixedlyattached to a pivot shaft 60. Pivot shaft 60 is fixedly attached toriser 4 such that movement of riser 4 includes movement of pivot shaft60 with ball 30. Ball 30 is then rotatably maintained within socket 62within handle 6. In this embodiment movement of riser 4 includesmovement of ball 30 with pivot shaft 60 relative to handle 6.

Riser 4 includes two ends with a limb 14 extending from each end ofriser 4. A limb retainer plate 10 is provided at each end of riser 4,facilitating the attachment of a limb 14 to riser 4. String assembly 16(shown in FIG. 7) includes two ends, Each end of string assembly 16 isfunctionally attached to a limb 14. The tension of the effective stringof the free floating how 2 is adjustable via a screw 36 (shown in FIG.4) securing each limb 14 to each end of riser 4. Tightening screw 36 inlimb 14 causes limb 14 to spread farther apart from limb 14 mounted onthe opposing end of riser 4. It should be appreciated that variousmethods may be used for the structure of the mounting of the limbs 14without deviating from the scope of the disclosure.

The ball joint assembly 8 includes a first ball socket portion 26 and asecond ball socket portion 28. Between the first ball socket portion 26and the second ball socket portion 28 is ball 30. Ball 30 is rotatablyencased at a first end, where the socket 28 is attached to riser 4 andat a second end to the top end of handle 6. The second socket portion 28extends from substantially a center bottom portion of riser 4. Inassembling the ball joint assembly 8, the ball 30 is first placed withinthe socket of the second ball socket portion 28 before the first ballsocket portion 26 is arranged such that its socket cups the ball 30 andthe first ball socket portion 26 is coupled and attached to the secondsocket portion 28, securing the ball 30 in place. The ball 30 is in turnattached to the top end of handle 6. In one embodiment, ball 30 measuresfrom about 1.5 inches to about 2.0 inches in diameter. In practice,handle 6 extends rearwardly and downwardly from the top end of handle 6to the bottom end of handle 6. Handle 6 is adapted to be held with afirm grip of the user's hand 56 (shown in FIG. 5) and riser 4 is adaptedto rotate with respect to handle 6 about ball 30 such that proper aimand a proper shot can be taken with free floating bow 2 with reducedtorque.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-9, a pair of arm braces 24 and armsupport 34 (shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5) are further provided to aid auser in holding free floating bow 2. When a string in free floating bow2 is drawn, riser 4 rotates about handle 6 towards the user in thedirection of the drawn string. The pair of braces 24 are configured toextend rearwardly from the bottom end of handle 6 and an arm support 34is configured to span the pair of arm braces 24, where the arm supportis adapted to be supported on the archer's bow arm. In the embodimentshown in FIGS. 1-9, the braces 24 are connected to handle 6 via dogbone20 which is fixedly attached to the bottom end of handle 6. Dogbone 20specifies the spread of the braces 24, which are substantially disposedin parallel. The pair of braces 24 may alternatively be constructed as asingle unit with handle 6. Embodiments of arm support 34 are adjustable.In one embodiment, arm support 34 is constructed from two fabric pieces,each being connected at a first end to an arm brace 24 and a second endto the opposingly disposed fabric piece via complimentary hook and loopportions disposed on the second ends, rendering the arm support 34adjustable.

Referring to FIG. 5, shown is a side view of a bow suitable for use inpracticing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. Illustrated in FIG.5 is free floating bow 2 with user's hand 56 gripping handle 6 througharm support 34. As shown, arm support 34 is configured to rest upon theuser's arm placed between the pair of arm braces 24. As disclosedherein, free floating bow 2 tends to rotate about handle 6 and the armsupport 34 is used to prevent such tendency.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 7, it will be noted that the ball jointassembly 8 allows rotation of riser 4 with respect to handle 6 duringuse. Parts identified by reference characters 46, 48, and 50 representthe three axes disposed at right angles in three dimensional coordinatesystem centered on the ball's center, respectively. In practice, ball 30allows orientation adjustment of riser 4 by adjusting the yaw angle 40,pitch angle 42, and roll angle 44 of riser 4 relative to handle 6. Suchadjustments allow free floating bow 2 portions disposed in a planedefined by riser 4, limbs 14, and string assembly 16 to “free float”during use.

Referring to FIG. 7, shown is a top view of a compound bow according toone embodiment of the present disclosure. Depicted in FIG. 7 is freefloating bow 2, arrow 3, limb retainer plates 10, limbs 14, string stop12, bumper 22, string assembly 16 with string 18, and arm brace 24. Asdepicted arrow 38 is necked but the bow is not drawn. String assembly 16as shown in FIG. 7 is a compound bow string assembly. String stops 12with bumpers 22 extend rearwardly from riser 4 towards a user duringuse. String stops 12 with bumpers 22 are operable to substantiallyobstruct or prevent movement of string 18 during use in a directiontoward riser 4 and handle 6 beyond a rest position of the string 18.

Referring to FIG. 8, shown is a top view of a recurve bow suitable foruse in performing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. Shown inFIG. 8 is free floating bow 2 including a riser 4 with limbs 14 fixedlyattached thereto. As is evident, limbs 14 are that of a recurve bow.

Referring to FIG. 9, shown is a top view of a long bow suitable for usein performing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. Shown in FIG. 9is free floating bow 2 including a riser 4 with limbs 14 fixedlyattached thereto. Limbs 14 as depicted are that of a long bow.

Reference is now made to FIG. 13, which depicts a perspective view ofanother embodiment of a bow suitable for use in practicing exemplaryembodiments of this disclosure. Shown in FIG. 13 is riser 4 with limbretainer plates 10, handle 6, handle base 66, and ball joint assembly 8with ball 30. Rise 4 is fixedly attached to ball 30 at riser mount 64(shown in FIG. 14), in the embodiment shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, ball30 includes a pivot shaft 60 and riser mount 64. Riser mount 64 is sizedto be fixedly attached to riser 4 by any means that sufficiently securesriser 4 to riser mount 64 to maintain its location during use of thebow. Methods of securing riser 4 to riser mount 64 can include screwing,welding, nailing, clasping, or a combination of these methods. Pivotshaft 60 extends from riser 4 into handle 6 along its longitudinal axisinto a socket 62 that substantially encompasses bail 30 allowingrotation of ball 30 within socket 62 of handle 6. The handle 6 can be atleast partly formed by handle halves each having a socket for receivinga portion of the ball 30 and which collectively captures and retainsball 30.

Handle base 66 in the embodiment shown replaces dogbone 20 and providesports 68 for attaching arm braces 24 to handle base 66. Arm braces 24can be fixedly attached to handle base at ports 68 by the use of screws,nails, welding, snaps, clasps, or a combination of these methods.

Referring to FIG. 15, shown is a perspective view of an exemplary handlesuitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.Shown in FIG. 15 is handle 6. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, handle6 includes two ball joint assemblies 8 located within handle 6. Eachball joint assembly 8 includes a socket 62 for maintaining a ball 30with pivot shaft 60 and riser mount 64. Riser mounts 64, as shown inFIG. 15, extend from the top and bottom surface of handle 6 and areoperable to he fixedly attached to a riser 4 (as shown in FIGS. 1, 13,or in some instances a pair of limbs 14). When attached to a riser 4 (ora pair of limbs 14) at riser mounts 64, handle 6 is operable to rotaterelative to riser 4 and ball 30 in response to torque on the system.Handle 6 is operable to be used in any type of bow configurationincluding a bow 2 (shown in FIGS. 10-12) and in a bow 2 (shown in FIGS.1-9, and 13).

Embodiments of handle 6, as shown in FIG. 15, provide for ball 30 ofball joint assembly 8 to be located within handle 6 such that ball 30aligns with the longitudinal axis of a user's forearm when grippinghandle 6 (as shown in FIGS. 5, 10, 11, and 12). In other words,embodiments of handle 6 with ball joint assembly 8 include ball 30 beinglocated within the portion of handle 6 that corresponds to the portionof handle 6 gripped by a user. However, it should be appreciated thatembodiments of handle 6 provide for ball joint assembly 8 with ball 30to be located at numerous positions within handle 6.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a recurve bow according to one embodiment ofthe present disclosure. FIG. 11 is a side view of a long bow accordingto another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is a side viewof a compound bow according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure. In each of FIGS. 10, and 11, the relaxed states of the bowis shown in solid lines while the drawn state is depicted in dottedlines. The present torque reducing concept shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12is capable of being adapted to compound bows, recurve bows and longbows. Shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 is bow 2 having a riser 4, limbs 14,string 18, and arrow 38. As depicted in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12, handle 6is an integral portion of riser 4. Handle 6 when held in a user's handis capable of rotation about a central axis 52 of riser 4 about joint58. Each limb 14 is configured to be rotatable about a central axis 54of rotation of the joint 58 where such axis is substantially parallel tothe central axis 52 of riser 4. Embodiments of joint 58 include adumbbell cyclindrically shaped structures that couple limbs 14 to riser4 during user and allow limbs 14 to rotate about axis 52 relative toriser 4 in response to torque of tension from a user drawing string 18.

In practice, a user will grip free floating bow 2 at handle 6. The usersarm will extend between arm braces 24 and under arm support 34. Whilemaintaining the relative location of handle 6, the user will pull string18 towards the user's body thereby creating increased tension in string18 and rotational torque on riser 4 and handle 6 to rotate in thedirection of the pulling motion. During the pulling movement,embodiments of free floating bow 2 allow riser 4 to rotate about ball 30relative to handle 6 in the direction of the user's pulling movement.This rotation can include rotation along one of the yaw angle 40, pitchangle 42, or roll angle 44, or a combination of these angles. Sinceriser 4 rotates in response to the rotational torque, the torque onhandle 6 felt by the user is reduced.

This disclosure has been described in detail with particular referenceto a presently preferred embodiment, but it will be understood thatvariations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scopeof the invention The presently disclosed embodiments are thereforeconsidered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. Thescope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims, and allchanges that come within the meaning and range of equivalents thereofare intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bow comprising: (a) a riser comprising a pairof limbs having a string assembly operably coupled to each one of thepair of limbs, the riser with the pair of limbs operable to maintain atension in the string assembly; and (b) a handle, the handle comprisinga ball joint maintained in the handle operable to rotate relative to thehandle, wherein the handle is rotatably affixed to the riser at the balljoint.
 2. The bow according to claim 1, wherein the riser operablyrotates relative to the handle in a direction of increased tension onthe string assembly.
 3. The bow according to claim 1, wherein the stringassembly is a string.
 4. The bow according to claim 1, wherein thestring assembly is a compound bow string assembly.
 5. The bow accordingto claim 1, wherein the riser is operable to rotate relative to thehandle along at least two degrees of rotation.
 6. The bow according toclaim 1, the bow further comprising a pair of arm braces extending froma bottom end of the handle and an arm support configured to span thepair of arm braces, wherein the arm support is adapted to be supportedon a user's bow arm.
 7. A handle device comprising: a handle membercomprising a grip portion located between a first end and a second endof the handle member, the handle member further comprising a socketlocated therein proximate the first end; and a ball joint assemblycomprising a ball fixedly attached to a pivot shaft, wherein the ball isconfigured to be rotatably retained within the socket with an endportion of the pivot shaft extending in a direction along a longitudinalaxis of the pivot shaft from the first end of the handle member.
 8. Thehandle device of claim 7, wherein the end portion of the pivot shaft isconfigured to be coupled to an attachment device such that, when coupledto the pivot shaft, the attachment device is capable of rotating withrespect to the handle member about the ball.
 9. The handle device ofclaim 7, wherein the handle member further comprises a slot located atthe first end and configured to limit movement of the pivot shaft, basedon rotation of the ball within the socket, along a plane defined by theslot and the longitudinal axis of the pivot shaft.
 10. The handle deviceof claim 7, wherein the handle member comprises a first handle memberportion having a first socket portion and a second handle member portionhaving a second socket portion, wherein the first handle member portionand the second handle member portion are configured to be coupled suchthat the first socket portion and the second socket portion combine toform the socket.
 11. The handle device of claim 7, wherein the handlemember has a second socket located therein proximate the second end, thehandle member device further comprising: a second ball joint assemblycomprising a second ball fixedly attached to a second pivot shaft,wherein the second ball is configured to be rotatably retained withinthe second socket with an end portion of the second pivot shaftextending in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the second pivotshaft from the second end of the handle member.
 12. The handle device ofclaim 11, wherein the end portion of the second pivot shaft isconfigured to be coupled to a second attachment device such that, whencoupled to the second pivot shaft, the second attachment device iscapable of rotating with respect to the handle member about the ball.13. The handle device of claim 11, wherein the handle member comprises asecond slot located at the second end and configured to limit movementof the second pivot shaft, based on rotation of the second ball withinthe second socket, along a plane defined by the second slot and thelongitudinal axis of the second pivot shaft.